At talent contest, freshman wins

Freshman Jasmina Solunac was the second act to perform in the Talent Showcase competition at North Port High School.

Jasmina walked a few steps off the stage at the North Port Performing Arts Center into the orchestra pit, played the piano and sang "Stay."

The performance made her the overall winner at the event April 30, earning the top prize of the evening, a trophy and a check for $50.

The event, sponsored by the Choral Department of North Port High School, serves as a fundraiser and a way to encourage more students to learn to sing and sign up for a chorus class, possibly becoming a part of the new Campus Choir.

There were four categories in the Talent Showcase: dance, vocal, vocal and instrumental, and miscellaneous.

Winning first place in the vocal category was Kiah Franta with her solo "Rumor Has It."

Carolyn Fontanez earned first place for vocal and instrumental for playing the piano and singing "One and Only."

Dancing to the song "Cry," Georgia Sylvester won in the dance category for her solo.

The popular "Cup Song," performed by Alexandria Martin and Kassie Benton doing their own version of "Cup Song Mash Up," placed first in the miscellaneous category.

While the contestants' final scores were being tallied, the North Port High Men's Chorus performed "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life," and the school's drama club performed a cleaned-up version of "Time Warp" from the "Rocky Horror Picture Show."

On Saturday, contribute to letter carriers' food drive

The National Association of Letter Carriers will conduct its annual Food Drive on Saturday.

Food collected locally will help All Faiths Food Bank with its mission of feeding the hungry.

The weakening economy is sending the recently unemployed to Southwest Florida and the food bank for help and also to 190 partner agencies, Sandra Frank, executive director of All Faiths Food Bank, said in a prepared statement.

The National Association of Letter Carriers and All Faiths Food Bank will collect food from residential mailboxes.

The letter carriers will deliver a personalized bag to residents and rural areas prior to the drive. This year, people will also receive a reminder postcard before Saturday to request donations.

On the day of the food drive, the letter carriers will pick up the filled plastic bags of nonperishable items.

"More than ever, please help us help our neighbors in this cruel time of need," Jamie Delpero, NALC Sarasota County coordinator, said.

Nonperishable food donations also can be dropped off from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at any Goodwill location as well as these sites: